YouSaid · the spoken record

Singh

lines on the record: 32
first: 1996-08-15
most recent: 2022-06-02
sittings or episodes: 4
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“In order to succeed, the process should be nationally owned and inclusive, with the active participation of women. It should enable justice, promote reconciliation and aim at achieving peace in the long term.”
2022-06-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9052 (2022) · source
“Lastly, it goes without saying that an atmosphere of inclusivity and transparency almost always helps in strengthening accountability and achieving justice for serious violations. Strengthening the fabric of democracy is akin to strengthening guarantees against serious violations of international law. In conclusion, accountability for serious violations of international law is a noble objective that should be pursued with due respect for the sovereign equality of States. The international community should always encourage the States concerned to have in place an inclusive and transparent process for establishing accountability for serious violations of international law committed in its jurisdiction. The pursuit of accountability and justice cannot be tied to political expediency.”
2022-06-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9052 (2022) · source
“Those factors must be factored in when we discuss issues of accountability. We must also refrain from imposing universal jurisdiction on acts of atrocities alleged to have been committed on the territory of a sovereign State. Sixthly, as the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, the International Court of Justice has the role of settling, in accordance with international law, legal disputes submitted to it by States and issuing advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorized United Nations organs and specialized agencies. The Court plays a crucial role in the interpretation and clarification of the rules and principles of international law, as well as in the progressive development and codification of international law. India has always been supportive of the International Court of Justice.”
2022-06-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9052 (2022) · source
“Fourthly, decades of practice have shown that the responsibility to protect cannot be invoked to address all violations of human rights and humanitarian law, but must rather be confined to four major crimes — genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. Furthermore, practice has also shown that the default response of the international community should not be coercive measures imposed based on Chapter VII of the Charter. Nor should it be seen as a pretext for humanitarian intervention. Fifthly, the issue of accountability should not be discussed in isolation or viewed from a narrow perspective that considers only States that are alleged to have committed criminal acts when in fact foreign forces are actively involved in those acts, including when they have physical control and a physical presence.”
2022-06-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9052 (2022) · source
“Having suffered for decades from the scourge of cross-border terrorism in which thousands of innocent civilians have lost their lives, India has always been at the forefront of global counter-terrorism efforts. The international community should stand firm in its opposition to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and reject any attempt to provide any justification for terrorist acts. India recently provided financial assistance for the work of the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh/Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant.”
2022-06-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9052 (2022) · source
“The Rome Statute violates that cardinal principle because of the authority it gives the Council under its article 16 to defer ICC investigations and prosecutions. Thirdly, terrorism is the greatest threat facing humankind today. It exacerbates social tensions, pushing societies towards instability and violence. We are indeed seeing a sad state of affairs with regard to accountability, given the fact that State sponsors of terrorism have been allowed to go scot-free. Any discussion of accountability would therefore be incomplete without taking into account the carnage wrought by terrorist forces, particularly those backed by State actors in the pursuit of political objectives.”
2022-06-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9052 (2022) · source
“Secondly, the referrals made since 2005 of situations to the International Criminal Court (ICC), and especially the haste with which they have been made, have been the subject of criticism. The ICC’s acquittals in recent years have also cast a shadow on its credibility. Such developments appear to substantiate the view that when cases are referred to the ICC primarily for political reasons, the mechanism of the Court may not be able to serve the greater purpose of justice. Moreover, a number of countries in Africa and Asia, including India, are not parties to the Rome Statute. The independence of judicial bodies is a sine qua non for the impartial dispensation of justice, and under no circumstances should the discretion of a judicial body be subordinate to any political organ.”
2022-06-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9052 (2022) · source
“First, the tools for addressing serious violations of international law should be used judiciously and without any selectivity, in line with the principles of the Charter. The international community should aim to provide support to Member States’ efforts to ensure justice for victims through an accountability process that is based on nationally accepted norms and jurisprudence and that should also promote national reconciliation and an inclusive future. The International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the Special Court for Sierra Leone contributed to combating impunity while working in complementarity with national justice systems, and India provided financial assistance to their work.”
2022-06-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9052 (2022) · source
“Any serious violations of international law are therefore contrary to the spirit and aims of the United Nations, whose Member States have the responsibility and obligation to ensure justice and accountability for the gravest violations of human rights, as well as mass atrocities, in line with their national legislation. Given its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, the Council has acted a number of times in the past to address serious violations of international law. Alleged violations of the Genocide Convention have also been referred to the International Court of Justice. Those instances offer several key lessons that are pertinent to today’s debate. In that context, let me offer the following observations.”
2022-06-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9052 (2022) · source
“As the world’s largest democracy and a founding member of the United Nations, India has consistently demonstrated its commitment to upholding the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations as set out in its Articles 1 and 2. India follows the path of dharma, or righteous conduct, whose tenets are based on the principles of humanity and humanitarian norms. We firmly believe that the rule of law is an essential precondition for sustainable peace and development in any society. Indeed, justice and the rule of law are preconditions for the maintenance of peace and security at the international level as well. The objective of international law is to uphold the age-old universal value of humanity.”
2022-06-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9052 (2022) · source
“Let me begin by congratulating Albania on its historic, first-ever presidency of the Security Council. I would also like to take this opportunity to convey my Prime Minister’s best wishes and greetings to you, Mr. President, in your role as Prime Minister of Albania. It is a singular privilege to represent Mr. Modi at this high-level debate on such an important topic. I would like to thank Judge Joan E. Donoghue, President of the International Court of Justice, and Ms. Michelle Bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, for their briefings, and Professor Dapo Akande of Oxford University for his insights into the issue.”
2022-06-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9052 (2022) · source
“We genuinely wish to see enduring peace and stability return to the country and remain committed to supporting Libya and the Libyan people in that endeavour. We hope that all efforts by the international community, including the ICC, contribute to achieving unity, peace, security and stability in the country and to bringing about an inclusive and comprehensive national reconciliation.”
2021-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8911 (2021) · source
“India is also concerned about violations of the arms embargo. Such violations have the potential to cause hindrances in achieving progress in the political process by threatening the security environment. We must ensure that terrorist groups and affiliated entities not be allowed to operate unchallenged in Libya. The continued presence and activities of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant in Libya is of serious concern, including due to the potential cascading effect it could have throughout the Sahel region. It is unfortunate that the issue is not drawing the necessary attention it deserves. India has traditionally enjoyed close and mutually beneficial bilateral ties with Libya.”
2021-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8911 (2021) · source
“In a month’s time, we are expecting the presidential and parliamentary elections in Libya, as decided by the Libyan parties and further reinforced by the Security Council. However, challenges remain, including impediments to the holding of elections in a free, fair and credible manner. In particular, the involvement of external forces in the internal affairs of Libya has negatively impacted progress on the political track, and terrorist forces have been raising their heads once again. The importance of holding elections as planned on 24 December in a free, fair, inclusive and credible manner cannot be overemphasized. It is also important that the provisions of the ceasefire agreement and successive Security Council resolutions be respected and that the Libyan parties’ call for the withdrawal of foreign forces and mercenaries be honoured.”
2021-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8911 (2021) · source
“I would like to join others in thanking the Prosecutor, Mr. Karim Khan, for his briefing today. We also welcome the Permanent Representative of Libya, Ambassador Taher Elsonni. At the very outset, let me place on record that India is not party to the Rome Statute. I would like to recall discussions in the Security Council back in 2011, when India expressed our doubts about the effect of the referral of the situation in Libya to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in bringing about a cessation of violence and the restoration of calm and stability. As we had our concerns then, the referral did not have its intended impact. In fact, subsequent events have only reinforced our view that, when cases are referred to the Court primarily for political reasons, the ICC mechanism may not be best suited to serve the purpose of justice.”
2021-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8911 (2021) · source
“Whether it is with our neighbours under our Neighbourhood First policy, with African partners or with other developing countries, India has remained and will continue to be a source of strong support to help them build back better and stronger.”
2021-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8900 (2021) · source
“The international structure for maintaining peace and security and peacebuilding needs to be reformed. Global power and the capacity to address problems are much more dispersed today than they were 76 years ago. How long can the rightful voices of the developing world, including Africa, be denied? We are therefore convinced that reformed multilateralism, with the reform of the Security Council at its core, is crucial in order to deal with the complex challenges of today’s world. India has always strived to foster global solidarity across the world with our development partnership efforts, fully respecting national priorities and ensuring that our assistance remains demand-driven and contributes to employment generation and capacity-building, without creating indebtedness. That is particularly true for countries in a post-conflict phase.”
2021-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8900 (2021) · source
“In that regard, initiatives, such as the African Union Military Observer Mission in Somalia, the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel and the Multinational Joint Task Force, need more robust support from the Security Council and the international community. Fifthly, the spread of terrorism, particularly in those countries facing conflict, can reverse the efforts of the international community. It is therefore imperative that terrorism, in any form or manifestation, be condemned and that those supporting it in any manner be held responsible. Exclusion, inequality and conflict are relevant to the functioning of the Council as well. The persisting exclusion and inequality in the membership of the Security Council needs to be addressed.”
2021-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8900 (2021) · source
“Those efforts should include prioritizing the needs of the host State and coordinating the role of international financial institutions, the private sector and civil society organizations. Fourthly, some regional and subregional organizations have become more capable of addressing conflict situations and member States have increasingly reposed faith in their capacity to do so. That has brought positive synergy to the actions of the United Nations and the Security Council. The Security Council has the responsibility to support that trend and encourage and enable those regional and subregional organizations. We believe that the existing framework of cooperation, such as the joint United Nations-African Union framework for an enhanced partnership in peace and security needs to be implemented more proactively.”
2021-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8900 (2021) · source
“We also need to avoid politicizing humanitarian and development assistance in conflict situations. Humanitarian action must be primarily guided by the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence. Secondly, the international community needs to walk the talk by ensuring a predictable and enhanced flow of resources to countries in the post-conflict phase. Development assistance, in line with national priorities, should go a long way towards sustainable peace. Thirdly, it is important to actively support the post- conflict reconstruction agenda, particularly in Africa. In that regard, the Peacebuilding Commission’s efforts should be strengthened.”
2021-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8900 (2021) · source
“However, those conflicts have several long-standing political, economic and social causes, which require the attention not only of the Council but also of other organs of the United Nations with specialized roles in the areas of peacebuilding and socioeconomic development. There is clearly much to be done to help countries in intra-State conflicts to achieve sustainable peace. In that context, let me offer a few observations. First, international efforts in the maintenance of peace and security need to be inclusive. The process of implementing a peace agreement must run along with the provision of humanitarian and emergency assistance, the resumption of economic activity and the creation of political and administrative institutions that improve governance and include all stakeholders, particularly women and disadvantaged groups.”
2021-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8900 (2021) · source
“Let me begin by congratulating Mexico on assuming the presidency of the Security Council during this month. I would also like to convey best wishes and greetings from my Prime Minister to the President of Mexico, His Excellency Mr. Andrés Manuel López Obrador. India and Mexico have a special relationship and it is indeed an honour for me to represent my Prime Minister at today’s meeting. I would like to thank His Excellency Secretary- General António Guterres and the civil society briefer, Lourdes Tibán Guala, who is an indigenous affairs expert, for their insights on the topic of today’s open debate. During the past few decades, while inter-State conflicts have decreased, intra-State conflicts have attracted much higher level of attention from the Council.”
2021-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8900 (2021) · source
“Tackling the land-mine problem, while on one level requiring the pooling of our resources to launch demining in a comprehensive manner, also requires, on other levels, the strengthening of the norms against land-mines through specific steps such as the prohibition of transfers and the prohibition of use in internal conflicts. Such collective and broad-ranging steps will cumulatively make it feasible to move towards our shared goal of confronting the challenges of this massive problem.”
1996-08-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3689 (1996) · source
“They therefore need to be viewed in the light of economic and social development activities to rehabilitate and improve living conditions of people in countries debilitated by the scourge of land- mines. It bears to re-emphasizing in this context that there are intrinsic and structural differences between peace-keeping operations and peace-building activities. A continuum is no doubt possible in some instances. However, in so far as the United Nations system is concerned, the responsibility for post-conflict peace-building activities has necessarily to pass to the General Assembly, given its overall mandate and responsibilities under the Charter.”
1996-08-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3689 (1996) · source
“In effect, demining is not conducive to a merely military solution; nor can it be restricted to peace-keeping operations. In fact, one of the first United Nations demining initiatives was launched in 1989 in Afghanistan, where no peace-keeping mandate existed. Demining activities in Cambodia and Mozambique have continued to be a major focus of United Nations involvement, long after the peace- keeping operations in those Member States had ended. The impact of land-mines on the economic and social activities of an affected area makes demining, as the Secretary-General has stated, an integral part of the post- conflict peace-building of a nation. To be successful and sustainable, demining operations need to address the totality of the problem in an integrated manner, and address all dimensions simultaneously.”
1996-08-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3689 (1996) · source
“These include, for example, the fact that the availability of time is limited, as demining is a means to achieve other goals rather than a goal in itself; secondly, the requirements for the acceptability of a military demining operation do not include the identification of all mines and their destruction, but the task is more in the nature of mine breaching; thirdly, the limitations proposed by the financial implications of major involvement of the military in demining activities in United Nations peace- keeping operations in an era of financial stringency and mounting United Nations debt to major troop contributors; fourthly, the probability of duplication of the efforts of specialized agencies which are already addressing the problem in a multifaceted manner as part of a long-term development activity to improve the living conditions of people and bring about rehabilitation, whereas peace- keeping operations by the very nature of their mandate are of a finite, limited duration and can hardly be expected to take a long-term view; fifthly, the inherent limitations and difficulties referred to by the Secretary- General in his report (A/50/408) regarding transfer of capacities based on a primarily military culture to civilian and national control; and finally, the needs of major initiatives in the realm of demining by the United Nations need not always coalesce with the requirements of mounting a peace-keeping operation.”
1996-08-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3689 (1996) · source
“None the less, while defining the parameters of demining in peace-keeping operations it also needs to be remembered that mine clearance by the military is by its very nature constrained, on various counts.”
1996-08-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3689 (1996) · source
“It is also in the spirit of that commitment that India made a voluntary contribution of $50,000 in kind to United Nations demining operations, in the form of a broad range of services to be rendered by Indian experts. These would include establishing mine control centres and fielding mine survey teams, mine clearance supervisory teams and advisory teams, which will be fully equipped. Demining is a hazardous business. In the service of the international community, Indian troops have suffered casualties, as have troops from other countries. However, given the fact that in some peace-keeping operations the "Blue Helmets" represent the only available organized group with the capacity to undertake demining, they are saddled with these tasks as intrinsic to their broader goals.”
1996-08-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3689 (1996) · source
“In Cambodia, Indian experts helped in the training of civilians and worked closely with non-governmental organizations in developing a data base, undertaking area fencing and sensitizing the local population. In the largest current United Nations peace-keeping operation, in Angola, the Indian engineering contingent has been involved in the opening of the main arteries so as to facilitate the movement of the peace-keepers. Indian infantry battalions involved in peace-keeping operations include demining experts as integral elements. This is in keeping with India's long-standing commitment to support United Nations demining efforts.”
1996-08-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3689 (1996) · source
“As the Secretary-General noted in his report to the fiftieth session of the General Assembly (A/50/408), peace-keeping forces have engaged in demining for two purposes: first, to provide for a secure environment to engage in peace-keeping and, secondly, when demining is necessary to carry out other parts of their mandates. Indian troops involved in United Nations-mandated peace-keeping operations have been associated with demining activities since the Congo operations of 1961 to 1963. More recently, in operations in Cambodia and Somalia, Indian peace-keeping contingents have included specialists in demining who have been involved in mine breaching and tactical mine clearance.”
1996-08-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3689 (1996) · source
“Not only do land-mines maim about 20,000 people and kill 10,000 civilians annually, but they have been seen to have a devastating and serious negative effect on socio-economic development. They have disrupted social services, made agriculture risky, crippled essential infrastructure, prevented people from returning home, and intensified the problems of hunger and poverty. The physical, psychological, social and economic consequences of land-mines all therefore need to be addressed by any mine clearance or demining programme. Viewed from this perspective, demining in the context of United Nations peace-keeping operations represents one limited facet of the campaign against the indiscriminate use of land-mines.”
1996-08-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3689 (1996) · source
“I would like to begin by congratulating you, Mr. President, on this initiative to hold this open meeting of the Security Council on an issue of concern to all troop-contributing countries. All of us today seem to be in agreement that the land- mine crisis is a tragedy of mammoth proportions. As several other speakers have pointed out, conservative estimates indicate that there are 110 million land-mines littered in five continents, claiming 500 victims a week. The expanding dimensions of the crisis are graphically evident from the fact that while the international community is able to clear about 100,000 mines annually, 2 million to 5 million new mines are laid during the same period. Land-mines are, of course, a legacy of conflicts and wars, but their impact lingers on long after the guns have been silenced.”
1996-08-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3689 (1996) · source